Ardent hiker publishes guide to Catskills peaks

Alan Via, who has written a hiker’s guild to the Catskills, stands with Bookah on the summit of the Beaverkill Range.

Contributed photo

July 17, 2013 —

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Alan Via will present a program based on his book, “The Catskill 67: A Hiker’s Guide to the Catskill 100 Highest Peaks under 3500,” on Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. at Morgan Outdoors in the Catskill Park Room. He is only one of a small handful of hikers to have hiked all the Adirondack and Catskill 100 highest peaks, the latter with his dog Bookah.

Via has led hikes for the Adirondack Mt. Club, Catskill 3500 Club, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Taconic Hiking Club for 35 years. He was Albany ADK’s Outings Chair for 14 years, and is currently an ADK Main Club Committee Chair, a position he has held for 24 years. He’s a “regular” and winter 46er and 35er, Northeast 111 completer, and has hiked all over the western and Canadian mountains.

The Adirondack Mountain Club published Alan’s book in 2012, and The Schenectady Gazetter named it one of the top 10 new books of 2012. The hiking guide has color photos and maps, and Alan will be sharing photos from the photographers who contributed to the book, along with tales of his hikes.

The theme of the presentation is the Catskills’ 100 highest mountains, where they are, and how they are unique. His presentation is an introduction for hikers and other mountain enthusiasts to a range of peaks largely unknown to the public.